pink cleats & shin guards

I've fought it for years. I wanted to avoid the entire realm, but here I am, a soccer mom. Yes, it is true, we have added yet one more extra-curricular activity to our jam-packed week. My girls have asked me for several years now if they could play soccer and I always said "No!" The main reason I said no is that I didn't want to give up our Saturdays. Saturdays are sacred. They are truly the only family day WE have. I don't want a schedule every Saturday. I don't want someone else telling me where I have to be and at what time on my sacred Saturday. And . . . let's not forget the mid-week practices as well. But, again, here we are.

At the end of last school year, after watching Katie go to every soccer game of her friends that she could manage, and after watching Lacey and Katie run around kicking balls, pretending to play soccer . . . I thought "maybe I should let them give it a try." So now we're giving it a try. So far it's been manageable. A little crazy at times on Tuesday afternoons when we have 3 different things to be to all at the same time, but still manageable. Brad takes Lacey to her practice on Tuesday evenings, and that helps!

I do have one major complaint. I signed my girls up for fall soccer & practices started in August. Our first games were Saturday and it was in the 90's for Lacey's game (at 9:00 am) & over 105 degrees at Katie's game at 3:20 in the afternoon on a field with absolutely no shade to speak of and absolutely no breeze to be found. So this is what it's like to play fall soccer in the desert! By the way, does anyone know that it's really not fall yet - especially here?! No wonder I fought it for so long! After playing for awhile, Katie was near tears & ready to throw up. Their team was missing 2 players so there wasn't a lot of opportunity for rest. By the end of the game I had wondered if I was inflicting some sort of abuse on my kid, encouraging her to get out there & help her team, to toughen up & to just drink a little more water & she'd be fine. Fine to the point of heat exhaustion!

Of course, in a way, that is one of the reasons I think it is good that my girls are playing soccer. Dance is the closest we've ever come to anything athletic, and dance is not much of a team sport. My girls don't know much about playing on a team, helping the team, forgetting yourself for the good of the team, working toward a common goal to accomplish something as a team. Yeah - they have no concept of what "there's no 'i' in team" means. Being part of a family, you would think they might have a little bit of an idea but they don't. So, for that, I think this soccer thing is good. Brad also likes that they have to listen to a coach who tells it like it is, usually in a firm and "tough-dude" manner. He thinks that will help thicken their skin a bit and make them "cowgirl up!" He's probably right.

Right now only Lacey & Katie are playing, but Madi keeps telling me she wants to play. Maybe in the spring . . . maybe . . .

I know one thing - they look pretty cute in their uniforms & don't you just love the pink cleats?

Lacey on the sidelines while her team members play (coach in the background). When you're Lacey's age you play 3 on 3, the coaches are the ref, and there's no score.
It's all about learning & having fun!

A huddle with the coach - Lacey is number 2

Lacey right in the middle of the action - this didn't happen very much during that first game!

Katie poses with her team before the game. Katie is the newcomer. All these girls have played together for a couple of years now. All the players but 2 go to our school. When the game started Katie was on the sidelines, but went in soon after. When the ball first came her way she stood there in a bit of a daze, a little confused about what to do. But then, something clicked & she figured it out & no one could believe this was her first experience playing soccer.

Receiving instructions from the coach - Katie is #3. One of the moms brought a golf umbrella & was holding it to give the girls a little shade! Live & learn - we will definitely bring an umbrella next game.

The game was over - Katie's team won - and she was hot, sweaty, and exhausted. I didn't expect her to smile for this picture because right before I took it she was ready to cry & throw up. I actually was hoping for a candid shot that showed her "pain". I was certainly feeling it for her. I was actually surprised that she pulled out such a genuine smile for me.